No one can explain why. Darwin thought that music owed its origins to ancient mating rituals. But if there is a biological imperative, it might also lie elsewhere in life's endless symphony: We breathe out and in, our hearts beat a familiar tattoo, our fluids flow and ebb, and in this we join a natural world filled with similar cycles—from the orbits of planets to the grinding regularity of cricket song. Other aspects of music seem equally joined to the qualities that make us human—the need to express, connect, exalt and even be playful.

How can one capture the vastness of this subject in a single gesture? Bob Ulrich, the retired CEO and chairman emeritus of Target Corp., decided the best way was to build a Musical Instrument Museum on a global scale: a collection of musical implements representing every single country in the world—from the gargantuan U.S. to the tiny island of Comoros—featuring both ancient artifacts and contemporary inventions (some of them newly commissioned). The result, a 190,000-square-foot building created by Richard Varda and the firm RSP Architects—with an interior designed to convey the graceful lines of a piano, and containing multiple themed galleries and an intimate concert hall—opened here last month.

Island allies with IranArticle By: The Comoros' move to switch its oil supply contract from French giant Total to Iran has sparked growing outrage over acute fuel shortages across the Indian Ocean archipelago.

Petrol and diesel shortages have lacerated the islands' economy ever since President Ahmed Abdallah Sambi decided to not renew the national oil company's contract with Total earlier this year.

The shortages have forced the postponement of the national school-leaving baccalaureat examinations, the latest irritation to hit the Islamic republic already suffering chronic poverty and unemployment.

"We have postponed the exams for a week because of the fuel shortage," government spokesperson Abdourahim Said Bakar told AFP, on the grounds that examiners and students alike would be unable to reach exam venues because of a lack of public transport.

Many Comorans, already badly hit by the rise in basic food prices, have been forced to limit or cancel travel.

Intense criticism over the shortages has come from both the president's political foes and business organisations.

According to Ahmed Koudra, an economist and head of the Comoros' employers organisation, Opaco, the crisis has been "directly created" by the Comoran authorities which took the initiative in ending their relationship with Total.

"What happened with the national oil company is an economic crime," said Houmed Msaidie, an aide to former president Azali Assoumani.

"When he came to power, Sambi found a company which was working. Today, the same company is incapable of supplying the country with fuel," said Msaidie.

For the first time since his May 2006 election, Sambi was jeered by crowds last week as his motorcade made its way to the airport, and several hundred people took part in protests on 10 June and 28 July.

The contract with Total expired on 16 April. According to several sources, Sambi — a moderate Islamist trained in Iran — wanted to buy the Comoros' oil in Iran and have it refined in Yemen. But the switch has been slow to implement.

The Islamic republic's Energy Minister Houmadi Abdallah flew to Tanzania last week to try to secure a reliable oil supply in the interim, several sources said.

The growing discontent at the fuel shortages has only exacerbated the chronic poverty in the country, where the average monthly salary is less than 40 000 Comoran francs — around €80.

The shortages have hit electricity supply, which is rationed by the national electricity company.

The Comoran capital Moroni has power only between 6pm and 10pm. The smaller island of Moheli has only a couple of hours more power daily, while Anjouan, the poorest of the three islands, barely has any supply at all.

The archipelago has a population of around 730 000 people.

Drivers wait for days at filling stations for petrol. Few taxis are on the streets, and those available are charging record high fares.

Businesses have been badly hit on an archipelago where vanilla, ylang-ylang (a plant used to make perfume) and cloves are the main sources of hard currency, accounting for 90 percent of export revenue.

"Our monthly turnover has fallen from 10-million Comoran francs to 200 000 Comoran francs," grumbled Ali Mliva, an insurance company official who criticised "the permanent incapacity of the government to solve problems."

''Bedoun issue not raised in KuwaitـComoros talks'' CAIRO: Kuwait Ambassador to Egypt and nonـresident Ambassador to Comoros Dr. Rashed AlـHamad said on Sunday that no Kuwaiti official has raised the issue of stateless (Bedoun) residents of Kuwait in talks with Comoros officials.He made the remarks in response to recent reports on the refusal of Comoros to grant its nationality to stateless people in Arab countries including Kuwait."The recent visits of Kuwaiti officials to the United Republic of Comoros aimed exclusively to enhance the bilateral ties and boost Kuwait role in the economic development of Comoros," he said in statements to KUNA here.Kuwait''s Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Sabah Alـ Sabah visited Comoros in February when he signed four documents on cooperation, AlـHamad noted.AlـHamad also visited the eastern African republic three weeks ago to meet President Ahmed Abdullah Sambi to offer his credentials and nonـresident ambassador.He also met other senior officials to probe the bilateral ties in various fields, but did not raise the stateless issue. ـKUNA

This Travel Alert is being issued to advise U.S. citizens traveling to the Union of the Comoros of the potential for unrest following the removal of former president Mohamed Bacar from authority over the island of Anjouan by African Union and Comoran forces. This Travel Alert expires on May 31, 2008.

Washington, D.C. - infoZine - On March 25, 2008, control of the island of Anjouan was restored to the Union of Comoros following the forcible removal of former Anjouan Island president Mohamed Bacar, who had illegally retained and seized power. French authorities detained Bacar on the island of Mayotte, whence he had fled, and transported him to the French Overseas Department of Reunion where his asylum request is pending. Street demonstrations protesting French involvement and perceived protection of Bacar following his arrival in French controlled territory have occurred in Moroni, the Comoran capital. These protests are primarily directed against the French, but threats have also been made against other westerners. Further demonstrations are expected, pending resolution of Bacar's asylum claim with France and the criminal case against him in the Comoros.

In light of this information, U.S. citizens are urged to carefully consider the risks of travel to Comoros at this time. The military situation in Anjouan is still unsettled and the possibility of spontaneous mob violence throughout Comoros persists. U.S. citizens already in Comoros are urged to maintain a high level of vigilance and a low profile. The United States does not have an Embassy in the Union of the Comoros so the ability of the United States Department of State to assist American citizens encountering difficulty is extremely limited.

American citizens considering travel to Comoros despite this travel alert are urged to register with the Department of State or the U.S. Embassy in Antananarivo, Madagascar, through the State Department's travel registration website, travelregistration.state.gov. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy in Antananarivo to contact them in case of emergency.

The Embassy is located at 14-16 Rue Rainitovo, Antsahavola, Antananarivo. The mailing address is B.P. 620, Antsahavola, Antananarivo, Madagascar; telephone [261] (20) 22-212-57 during regular business hours and for after hours emergencies; fax [261] (20) 22-345-39. The Consular Section e-mail is antanwarden@state.gov. The Embassy's web site is located at www.antananarivo.usembassy.gov.

Updated information on travel and security in Comoros may be obtained from the Department of State by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada, or for callers outside the United States and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. For further information please consult the Consular Information Sheet for Comoros and the Worldwide Travel Alerts which are available on the Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet website at travel.state.gov.